Range Rover will finally launch its first electric SUV later this year. In the meantime, the luxury brand has several new EV models in the pipeline, including a smaller (likely more affordable) Velar. The Range Rover Velar EV is coming soon with an upgraded design and much more.
Range Rover Velar EV will debut with a new design
Anticipation is building for Range Rover’s first fully electric SUV. Earlier this year, Jaguar Land Rover said the Range Rover Electric had already secured 57,000 clients on the waitlist.
Ahead of its official debut later this year, the electric SUV is being put through the paces in Sweden. After that, Range Rover will launch the smaller Sport model. Both will look almost identical to the gas-powered models with the luxury brand’s signature design.
The new Velar EV is set to debut just months after the Range Rover Electric and Sport models arrive. Unlike the other models, the Velar is set for a major revamp, including a new style and 800V platform.
According to Autocar, spy shots show that the upcoming Range Rover Velar EV will be bigger with a more SUV-like design.
The upgrades are designed to help the Velar stand apart from the Sport and Evoque models. They could also help it compete with others in the segment, like the Porsche Macan Electric.
On the inside, expect a minimalist design similar to the larger Range Rover models, with a heavy focus on premium materials and tech. The company said its new EMA platform will have hands-free, eyes-on driving assist and OTA updates.
JLR’s CEO Adrian Mardell confirmed last year that the Range Rover Velar will be the first EV to ride on its new EMA platform.
Top comment by Michael Wolf
It looks like a pavement princess, not an off-road SUV. Which is fine, that's where Range Rover's market is this year. Comparing it to the silhouette of the Lucid Gravity, the shape is almost identical, with one exception: The Velar has the long hood we've come to expect with front-engine ICE vehicles, while the Gravity has a very short hood. This means that it will not achieve the interior benefits that Gravity offers from a packaging that ignores the limitations imposed when designing ICE vehicles. As such, I expect it will be a "premium" vehicle, but very much me-too in the space, and not offering much that's really compelling to a buyer who's not already wedded to the Range Rover brand.
“We’ll first have MLA BEV, with the Range Rover BEV later next year,” Mardell said, adding, “Then it’s the first vehicle off EMA, which will probably be springtime in 2026.”
Last year, a smaller Range Rover electric SUV, likely the Velar, was spotted at JLR’s test center with a sporty, low-riding profile (See it in the video above).
The 800V EMA platform will underpin other upcoming JLR EVs, including the Evoque and Defender Sport. Although specifics have yet to be revealed, the electric Velar will be powered by JLR’s next-gen batteries.
After JLR announced plans to develop new plug-in hybrids last year, a Velar PHEV model wouldn’t be a surprise. Check back soon for more details, as they are expected closer to launch.
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